24/7/25 : World University Games 2025 - Heats

Today was the heats of the World University Games, my first time back in a GB vest in six years. I struggled to get any breakfast down me; I can't remember ever being this nervous prior to a race. It surprised me just how nervous I was because there was no bad outcome here. I was on the startline in red, white and blue once more. Something I had dreamed of for six years. Through torn hamstrings, fractured bones, optic neuritis, bone oedemas, countless other injuries and more mental health struggles than you could shake a stick at (you probably could shake a stick at them all but you'd be there a long time), I was back on the international stage, doing what I love. So as I say, there was no bad outcome here, and yet I was shivering in my timbers.

Warm up went ok but I decided to go through the hurdles rather than over them so, courtesy of some nice bruising and swelling, I had a couple more knees than I started with; a few souvenirs hey! I also hadn't fuelled enough so my blood sugars hit the deck pretty abruptly. Thankfully my coach is a previous world champion so he was swift enough to run to the food hall to get me some snacks and drinks to quickly top up my will to live levels; my glucose levels too. Then my coach took me to the call room. Before I went in he shook my, (incredibly clammy) hand and with that I was alone. Again, I haven't been in a call room for six years. For those not familiar with a call room, it's a small box room deep in the belly of the stadium where you get your clothing and shoes checked, numbers on and get ready to be led out to the race. It's rather intense to be squeezed into a confined space with your competition, not to mention the inner dialogue, but despite the intensity and slight discomfort of the situation it hit me in that moment like a tonne of bricks...boy I've missed this.

We were then led out to the race, with several rooms and stairways to traverse and the longest walk to the startline I've ever participated in. Once you're out there you set up your blocks and you get one practice run over two hurdles. This went well for me, far better than my warm-up. Again I was hit with a realisation... championships suit me. They always used to but used to is a very long time ago now so I wondered whether it still would.

I was introduced to the stadium and the viewers at home and as I looked down the barrel of the camera, I thought of my Mum and Grampy, my best friends and their cat Milo, my wonderful friends and training partners and all the other people who were on the other end of the lens. They were just in front of me and a hundred miles away all at once. Thinking of them and with my St Christopher pendant that my mum gifted me around my neck, I realised that I wasn't alone, and whatsmore, I never have been.

I ran 13.26 in the heats, my fastest time in five years and with that I automoatically qualified for the semi-finals. I came into the competition ranked 33rd out of 37 and was down to the final 24. A lovely bit of a progress and an experience that put a plaster on my heart.

Bring on the semi finals

LM

I learnt a lot in navigating the nerves and apprehension of this race, but the biggest thing I learnt prior to it is that if your heart is in the right place, and the stars are too, then dreams can come true. Even if it takes six years.